Filtering apparatus



April 1947. F. B. SHEPARD Q 2,418,604

FILTERING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 8, 1947.F. B. SHEPARD FILTERII IG APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Elm 02mm ZLBSZzepanZ April 8, 1947. b PA 2,418,604

FILTERING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 z'9 FBA /wpardPatented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILTERING APPARATUSFrank B. 'Shepard,"1exon, Tex.

Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,556

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a filtering apparatus, .and it is a particularpurpose of the invention to provide an apparatus embodying novel meansfor reclaiming or purifying lubricating and cut- .ting oils.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this'kind embodying a filteringlmedia including fullers earth or the likeand wherein means are provided to prevent channeling of such media asthe oil flows therethrough.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus ofthis kind comprising screening elements arranged one above the other,together with means to divide the flow of oil equally between twoadiacent screening elements itolprovide an efficient flowing conditionwith increase'dcapacity and at a low operating pressure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus .ofthis kind comprising two -.pressure tanks, together with means forselectively delivering the oil or fluid into either of the tanks andwherein one of the tanks is in vent communication with the other forbleeding .air from one .of the tanks into the other when said first tankis being filled.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thiskind including two pressure tanks adapted to.be mounted one upon theother in a manner whereby, when desired, one of the tanks can be readilyeliminated.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination andar rangemerit of the several parts ofmyimproved fi teringapparatus whereby certai important advan- .tages are attained, as willbe hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understoo-dfI will now proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanyin drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation andof a somewhat diagrammatic characterillustrating a filtering apparatus constructed in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through theapparatus as illustrated in Figure 1, with parts in elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the filteringelement as comprised in the pper'tank;

Figure 4 me sectional view on the line 44 or Figure '5; t

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is aviewin bottom plan, with a portion broken away, of thebasket as "herein comprised;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through thelowermost filtering element within the lower tank;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view. partly in section andpartly in elevation,illustrating the external filtering unit as herein embodied; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially onthe line 9-49 of Figure 2.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, M denotes a main pressuretank of desired dimensions and having its upper or top end open. Theupper end of the side Wall I of this tank M is defined by an outstandingsurrounding flange 2, and said wall I closely adjacent tothe upper ortopopen end of the tank has suitably secured to the inner faces thereofthe opposed Dlates3 withwhich detachably engage the extremities ofa'supporting bar 4 which, when applied, extends rad ally'across theupper portion of the tank M.

At substantially its longitudinal center this bar 4 has rigidly-securedthereto a pipe elbow 5 'to one extremity of which is coupled a pipe :6to extend downwardly Within the tank'Mat sub- "stantially the axialcenter of the tank. This pipe 6 is relatively shortand its lowerextremity or that end portion remote from the elbow 5 threads into abore 1, Figure 4, formed through a head 8 which is at the upper end of atubular cylindrical core 9 of a filtering element E.

This core 9 is of desired length, preferably relatively short, andisprovided at points spaced therearound and lengthwise thereof with theelongated perforations'or slots Ill. The bore ll of the core 9 is incontinuation of the bore 1 of the head 8 and the head 8 is of suchdiameter as to extend outwardly beyond the core ID to provide adownwardly facing annular shoulder I2.

Surrounding the core 9 are the annular screening members I l ofduplicate construction and the uppermost member I4 is held against theshoulder l2 and adjacent members i i are held in close contact one withthe other by the binding or holding nut l5 threaded upon thelowerextremity of'the core 9 and having direct contact with thelowermost member l4.

"The central opening Hi of each of'these screening members it is of adiameter materially in exc'essof the major diameter of the core 9'butthe member 14 is provided therearound with the inwardly and radiallydisposed lugs ll of equal lengths and of such length to contact theperiphery of'the core 9 and thus position the screening members I lconcentric with said core but spaced therefrom.

It is-alsoto be noted that these lugs [1- have their under faces flushwiththe corresponding faceof the member 14 but that the upper faces of"such-lugs-are below the top face of themember I 4 so that saidlugs I!will offer no hindrance or obstruction to the flow through any of theradially disposed shallow grooves or channels l8 provided in the topface of each member I4. The oil to be reclaimed readily seeps or flowsthrough these grooves or channels ill for further passage into the core9 through the openings H) and up through the pipe 6, for a purpose to behereinafter explained.

The lower extremity of the bore ll of the core 9 is adapted to havethreaded therein, or otherwise engaged therewith, the upper end portionof another pipe IQ of desired length and. extending downwardly. Thelower end portion of this pipe I9 is engaged with the head 20 of anotherfiltering element F. This element F is constructed in substantially thesame manner as the filtering element E except that the lower end of thebore 2| of the core 2| is closed by a plug 22, Figure '7, and whichplug, when applied, is entirely below the annular screening members 23.

The upper filtering element E hassubstantially t ghtly disposedtherearound a fabric sack or sock 24, the upper end portion of which issecurely held to the head 8 of the element E by a tie wire 25 or otherflexible strand, and to facilitate this securement, the periphery of thehead 8 is provided circumferentially therearound with the groove orchannel 26. The lower extremity of this sack or sock 24 is open but isdrawn tightly down across the lowermost screening element 14 and held bythe tie wire 21 or otherwise as may be preferred. This lowermost memberI4 is provided in its periphery with a circumferentially disposed groovea which may be used to facilitate this attachment instead of binding thesock to the pipe l9, as shown.

The filtering element F also has associated therewith the fabric sack orsock 28 secured to the head of the element F in the same manner as justdescribed with respect to the sack or sock 24. The lower end of the sackor sock 28 is closed and closely underlies the lower or bottom end ofthe element F.

The pipe H3 at substantially its longitudinal center or ata point midwayof theflltering elements E and F has weldedor otherwise rigidly securedthereto a bafile disk B. This disk B is-of considerable radius and issubstantially flat with, of course, the pipe 19 disposed axiallytherethrough.

Coupled to and leading from the upper end of the elbow 5 is a pipe 29 ofa length to extend out wardly of the tank M through the side wall Ithereof.

The pipes ,6 and H) are in alignment and in the assembly of theapparatus, such aligned pipes 6 and. l9'extend downwardly atsubstantially the axial center of a cylindrical cage or basket C. Thiscage or basket C is herein disclosed as cylindrical in form and is of adiameter less than the 4 mouth end of the sack 3| is tightly closedaround the adjacent portion of the pipe 3.

In the present embodiment of the invention, this cage or basket 0 isfabricated from perforated sheet steel to provide a side wall 32 withthe upper extremity of such wall reinforced by a surrounding ring orhoop 33 welded to the wall 32. The lower end of the cage or basket C isprovided with a perforated metal bottom 34 welded to the side wall 32.This bottom 34 is positioned a distance above the lower end of the wallor barrel 32 to provide a circulating space 35 therebelow. It is to benoted that the Wall or barrel 32 has its lowermost perforations 36 incommunication with the space 35.

The side wall or barrel 32 below the bottom 34 and immediately adjacentthereto is provided with a cross rib or spider support b to preventsagging of the bottom 34. This cross rib or spider support 12 ispreferably of metal and suitably welded to the wall or barrel 32.

It is to be pointed out that the screening members I4 of the element Eand the corresponding members 23 of the element F provide acomparatively large area in order to assure sufficient screeningcapacity with the resistance to flow practically equalized throughoutthe entire surface thereof. The grooves or channels l8 provide minuteopenings of suflicient capacity to handle a large flow of fluid spreadout over a comparatively large area in order to equalize the pressure.The bafiie disk B provides means to divide the flow equally between thetwo elements E and F and also to prevent channeling of the filter H,which results in a much better and more effective flowing condition witha greater capacity at a much lower operating pressure. It

- is also believed to be apparent that the sacks or socks 24 and 28provide further screening media. a

V Superimposed upon the tank M is a second pressure tank T having itslower end closedby a bottom wall 3'! which serves as a closure for thetop of the tank M when the tank T is applied. The lower end of the tankT is defined by an outstanding surrounding flange 38 which I rests uponthe flange 2 of the tank M and is interior of the tank M in which it ispositioned so that when the cage or basket C is in applied position, itis surrounded by a space 30.

The top or upper end of this cage or basket C is open so. that thedesired filler H of fullersearth may be readily placed within or removedfrom the cage or basket C. As illustrated in the drawings, this filler His contained Within a fabric sack 3| of desired capacity so that thefiller I-I constitutes a unit or cartridge which can be quickly appliedor removed. After application of the unit or cartridge within the cageor basket C and the pipes 6 and-I9 have been inserted within the fillerH, the upper open or detachably secured thereto by the bolts 33 orotherwiseas may be preferred.

' The top of the tank T is open but is adapted to be closed by the topplate 40, the peripheral portion of which is bolted, as at 4|, orotherwise detachably secured to the outstanding surrounding flange 42defining the upper end of the tank T It is noted that in such instanceswhere the use of the tank T is dispensed with, this top plate 40 may beused as a closure for theupper end of the tank M and for which reason,inthe present embodiment of the invention, the bolt openings in theflanges 2 and 42 are drilled iden: tically to allow for thisinterchangeable use of the top plate '30 with the tankT or the tankDepending from the top plate 40 at the axial center thereof is a pipe 48of a length to terminate above but in close proximity to thebottom wall37 of they tank T. This pipe 48is threaded, as at 43, within the opening50 of the plate 40 to allow said pipe 48 to be readily removed orapplied, .When this plate 40 is to be employed as a closure for thetankT, this pipe 48 is uncoupled and the opening. 53 may be plugged-orotherwise closed. I

- The major portion :ure 1.3;:1and z'surrounding such :perforatedportion .ofzthepipe 48 'aretthe screening members*52',=.with adjacentmembersjn :close. contactaone -with? the other .and with the uppermostsmember 52 .zin idirect'contact with the. surrounding :member "53 -fixedupon the :upperqportionof the pipe-48. ..The top if ace :of each. of;these members 52 is provided ".thereacross with the. radiallydisposed-rand shallowlg rooves or. channels 54 similarto the grooves.or'ichannels. lfi'zhereinbefore rreferred rtO and for the same.purpose.

threaded thereon a blind' nut 155- "which operates itO hold themembers-52in. desiredassembly upon thegpipe'48 andlalso tor-clamping.the lower portion of the pipe 48 to the perforated bottom t ofthe-cylindrical waste cage or basket W. The side wallt-l of this cageor:basket W is also provided at spaced points therearound and at pointsSpaced between the top and bottom thereof with -the perforations 58..The'top of this cage or basket-Wis closed by the removable top .lid orcover 59.

This cage or basket *W is tightly packed with. a waste fillertll and.this:cage or basket W is of a diameter less than then interior diameterof the tank T 0 that a space 61 surrounds the applied cage or basket W.It is :also to be noted that when thiscage .or basket Wis in appliedposition. its bottom 56 is spaced from the bottom wall 31 of the tankTwhile its top cover or lid 59 is spaced from the top plate 40 for thetank T.

Leading from and in communication with the upper portion of the pipe 48through the opening 49 is :a :discharge pipe -62. This pipe 62 extendsradially above the top plate 40 to a desired point therebeyond an'd'the.outer end portion of this pipe 6.2 .is continued by a depending pipeline 63 whichterminatesat a point closely adjacent to the lower end ofthe tank M and is in communication withasaid tankiM, .as at 64, througha, side wall I thereof. This pipe line .63 at a point above the bottom.of the tank T has interposedtherein a control valve 65 and saidpipeline 63 at a .point below .the'top of the tank M is provided with acontrol valve 66. V

In communication, as'at Blywith the' p'ipeline 63 at .apoint between thevalves 65 and '66 .is a pipe 1ine*68 leading from a source .ofdirty'o'il and which pipe line 68 also has interposed 'therein'aregulating valve BQan'd in advance of said-valve 69, the pipe line' 68has incommunication therewith a'spring 'load'edadjustable by-passvalveof any type preferred. The portion of this pipe line-68 immediatelyadjacent to the pipe line 63 is' at right angles tosuch pipe line 63 andsuch portion of the line 158 is in communication through the pipe H withthe tank T at a desired point above the bottom thereof. This pipe H hasinterposed therein a conventional regulating valve 45. This portion ofthe pipe line 68 also has in communicat on therewith a conven tionalpressure gauge 12, although this gauge may be otherwisepositioned alongthe pipe line 68-as may be prefer-red.

Also in .communication with' the pipe line =63 between the valves65'and'65 is tocarry off'pipe 73 1eading1to-asuitable point of dischargeand through which is adapted 'to be delivered the cleaned :oil. In thispipe -73 is interposed a conventional control valve 7-4.

With the valves 65 and 66 open and the valve 69 closed, the apparatuswill function in connection with both ofthe tanks T and The oil to bepurified wiliflowthrough the pipe H into the tank 1T"?Wil7h,$0f :nourse,"the valve 45 ::open. flihe purified or reclaimed oil-"will be:conveyedto theicarry-tofi pipe line E3 :in patmanner .tO be laterdescribed. :However, when :it ,:is :desired to .use only the tank' M,the valves 45., =6:.5.and 1.4 .are closed .and theva-lve .69 opened.When. it is desired to use onlythe tank '11, theva-lves-EG and 68are.closedandithevalves'45, 65 and 14 opened.

The outer end portion :of the pipe .29 :isrin communication, as at11.5,Wil7h ,a leg :ofaport 1T6 .provided in the marginal-portion -of atop casting .or crown member 11 for a Ffiltering .case D. This portwasherein :disclosed, is ;in the form :of an inverted U and the pipe29 is:in direct:communication with the outer-leg 0 thereof.

Held .to the under surface of the top. casting or crown member 11 ;bythe bolts T8 or otherwise asqmay be preferred :is the filtering case Dwhich depends therefrom. The second leg d of the port lfi has engagedtherein and in communication therewith the upper .end portioniof a downpipe 1-9 for. the .purpose of carrying-the'flow ,OfiOil as delivered bythepi e 29 toithe lowerpart of the :filtering case B to assist thesettlement of water, abrasive and other foreign matter within the oil.As' is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, this .down .pipe 19terminates closely adjacent to the bottom of .thecase D.

The leg vc .of the port 1-6 has fitted thereinssa valveseat with whichcoacts from above the spring-pressed ball valve 8| which provides meansto .prevent retrograde Ilow through the port t'fifrom .withinthe .caseD. The casting or crown member Tltat a point=directly above'theleg c ofthe port 16 is provided with lancopening. 82 a-fliording communicationwith said :port 16 and this opening-82 .is normally :closed by aremovable 10111983. The .spring .84. associated with the ball.v.a1vef.8. l is interposed between this ball. valve =8! and the applied.plug 83.

The top casting .or crown. member. T'Lat substantially its .aXial center.is provided therethroughwith a .p0rt.. 85 andcoupled within. the lowerportion or ithisportBE .and in communication' therewith is. a depending,pipeafi comprised in the" filtering. element. G. This filteringelementG 'isconstructed in .a manner similar to the structurehereinbefore.described in connection with thefiltering element 136. vItlis,therefore,tnot believed necessary that a .deta'iled description andillustration of this filtering element G .is .necessary.

In communication from above and secured within theport 8.51s .a pipe'B]which leads to and isin communication with the pipe line"l'.3 andinterposedbe'tween this pipell'l is a control valve 88. This ValVeIBB isclosed whenthe top tank T only is'in use.

'Thetank Tin'its lower portion is provided with a vent-pipe B9"whichopens through the bottom 3? of the tank "1'' and through the side wall43 of -the tank T1. "This'ven't pipe '89 is .for the purpose' ofbleeding 'airfrom the tank .M when fillmg. l

' It is 'also' of advantage :tojprovide the. tanks 1M andTrwith'thetemperature I auges 9!) which .may be of any type preferred.

"The side wall I of the tank M is provided with anelongated'andoutwardlyoffset portion 9] .to provide a'housing .lzopening Within thetank M and within this housing 92 is an. immersion type electricalheater 93 adapted for communication with .a suitable source .ofelectrical energy ,and which heatermay .be. of :such. type preferred.

' "'The top plate 40 also carries an immersion type 7 heater 94 toextend within the tank T or, of course, within the tank M when themember 49 is employed in connection with said tank. This heater 94 isalso adapted to be connected with a suitable source of electrical energyand may be of such type preferred. These heaters 93 and 94 arepreferably thermostatically controlled so that the same will beinefiective when the temperature within the tank T or M is above a predetermined or desired degree.

With the valve arrangement illustrated it will be readily apparent thatthe fluid to be treated may be run first through the tank T and thenthrough the tank M to and through the filter unit D or such fluid may berun directly into the tank M and through the filler unit D or it may berun directly into the tank T and made to by-pass the third filter unit Das may be desired in accordance with the character of the fluid and thedegree of contamination thereof. Where a fluid is known to becontaminated only with certain coarse particles which may be readilyremoved in the coarser filtering wastes and by means of the groovedfilter elements within the tank T, there would be no necessity forpassing the fluid through the finer filter material in the tank M orthrough the disk unit G of the filter element D. Where the maximum offiltering action is desired to' remove both coarseand fine particles aswell as to remove or trap water which mightbe contained in oil beingfiltered, such mixed fluids would be run through the finer strainingmedium of tank M and through the filter and sediment or water trap whichthe filter unit D forms.

What is claimed is: V

1. A filtering apparatus, comprising in combination, two tanks, adischarge pipe leading from one of the tanks and in communication withthe second tank, a filtering means within the first tank through whichthe fluid passes before flowing out of the discharge pipe intothe'second tank, a filtering means within the second tank, a supply pipeline in connection with the discharge pipe, valves in the discharge pipeat opposite sides of the connection between the discharge pipe line andthe supply pipe, a valved carry-01f pipe line leading from thedischarge. pipe at one side of the connection between the supply pipeline and the discharge pipe, a valve in the discharge pipe at theopposite side of the connection between the supply pipe line and thedischarge pipe from said valved carry-01f pipe line, a valved pipe lineleading from the supply pipe line and delivering into the first tank,the filtering means within the second tank comprising two filterelements directly connected one with the other, a cartridge offullers-earth surrounding said elements, and means interposed betweenthe filtering elements for equalizing flow through the fullers-earthrelative to said elements.

j 2. A filtering apparatus, comprising in combinatiomtwo tanks, adischarge pipe leading from one of the tanks and in communication withthe second tank, a filtering means within, the first tank through whichthe fluid passes before flowing out of the discharge pipe into thesecond tank, a filtering means within the second tank, a supply pipeline in connection with the discharge pipe, valves in the discharge pipeat opposite sides of theconnection between the discharge pipe line andthe supply pipe, a valved carry-off pipe line leading from the dischargepipe at one side of the connection between the supply pipe line and thedischarge pipe, a valve in the discharge pipe at the opposite side ofthe connection between the supply pipe line and the discharge pipe fromsaid valved carry-off pipe line, a valved pipe line leading from thesupply pipe line and delivering into the first tank, the filtering meanswithin the second tank comprising two spaced filtering elements, a pipeline interposed betweenvand con necting the elements, one of saidelements being in communication with the carry-off line, a cartridge offullers earth surrounding the elements, and a battle disk carried by thepipe line connecting the elements to provide divisionand deflection ofthe fluid flow through the fullers earth equally between the filteringelements and to prevent channeling of the fluid in the 'fullers earth.

3. A filtering apparatus, comprising a pair of tanks, a pipe lineleading from the top of one tank into the lower part of the second tankand having two valves therein, two pipe lines leading from the firstpipe line between said valves, one of the two pipe lines having acontrol valve therein and constituting a carry-ofi pipe, the other oneof the two pipe lines having two valves therein and leading into thelower part of the first tank, a fluid supply pipe connected with thesaid other one of the two pipe lines between the two valves therein, anoutlet for the second tank, a filtering unit within the first tank andconnected with the first mentioned pipe leading therefrom, a filteringunit in the second mentioned tank, and the outlet for the secondmentioned tank being connected with and receiving fluid from thefiltering unit therein.

FRANK B. SHEPARD;

REFERENCES CITED 1 The .following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

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